Mr. Hartner explained that GSAB recommended acquisition in the first go-round |
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which was before property values began to drop in 2007. Over the following |
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three years, the appraisal decreased from $2.7 million to $480,000. Mr. Roger |
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Moore, City Surveyor, applied and received a 319 conservation easement grant |
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to obtain the development rights rather than purchase the parcel outright. A |
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three-part appraisal has been done which includes the value of the entire |
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property, the value of the portion of the land that will contain the conservation |
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easement, and the underlying value of the remaining land. Negotiations are |
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continuing between the City's administration and the property owner. The parcel |
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is worth preserving with a conservation easement which would also provide an |
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important component to connectivity in the north area of the City to Stoney |
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Creek Metro Park. However, it would not be a publicly accessible parcel; |
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therefore, the city would have to reach an agreement with the property owner to |
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have the ability to access the property annually for inspections. |
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Mr. Hartner explained how the City was awarded a grant from the Department of |
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Natural Resources & Environment (DNRE) Trust Fund for up to $500,000 for |
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the property. However, during the state’s long review process, the local |
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economy in Rochester Hills has shown improvement and all of the lots platted in |
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the previous phase were sold. During the City’s negotiations, it was determined |
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that the grant would not be able to purchase the property based on the original |
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appraisal and the City could not in good conscious pay more than the appraised |
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value. The developer is serious about protecting the ecologically sensitive |
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areas and has provided a written promise that he will donate 18 acres of the |
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sensitive wetlands for green space preservation which will also add value to the |
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development. However, the City had to decline the trust fund grant. A press |
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release regarding the forfeiture of the grant will be issued from the Mayor’s |
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